Call Me Joan is a fictional stamp collection based on the life and work of collage artist Joan Hadswell. Her practice explores themes of fame, commodification, identity, and the complex bond between m..
more »Call Me Joan is a fictional stamp collection based on the life and work of collage artist Joan Hadswell. Her practice explores themes of fame, commodification, identity, and the complex bond between mothers and daughters. Joan’s mother, Jonnah Hadswell, is a renowned surrealist painter whose reputation overshadowed Joan’s early career.
In an effort to establish independence, the two began cutting into Jonnah’s early paintings to use as collage material. What started as a declaration of separation evolved into an intimate collaboration. The four stamps each represent a quarter of a single collage made from Jonnah’s paintings of Joan throughout childhood, highlighting formative moments—both tender and uncomfortable.
The accompanying trifold includes interchangeable panels that shift the composition, symbolizing their collaborative dynamic. No matter the arrangement, both artists remain visible, suggesting that artistic independence can coexist with personal and creative history.
This set includes a stamp sheet, trifold, book cover, signed artwork, envelope, page spread, interactive table of contents, merchandise, and a custom First Day of Issue stamp.
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